One of the themes that seem to be playing out on Twitter today is a backlash against using the word “groomer” to describe people who want teachers in kindergarten through third-grade classrooms to lead class discussions about sexual orientation and gender identity. We’re hearing from David French that anyone who supported Donald Trump has no moral standing to accuse someone of being a groomer; we’re also hearing from people like Jonathan Chait that it cheapens the meaning of the word and the true victims of grooming. In other words, the people who called conservatives Nazis and fascists and white supremacists for years are getting their feelings hurt.
Jen Psaki has called the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law “horrific” and “hateful.” Actor Mark Ruffalo called it “cruel and traumatizing for children.” So far it seems to be more traumatizing for elementary school teachers. So it hurts teachers who are LGBTQIA+ and think they can’t talk about their personal lives with their students; it hurts kids with two moms or dads who might be picked on by other kids; and it hurts transgender kindergarteners who can’t engage in classroom discussions about their gender identity.
Kansas teacher on why kids have to learn about being transgender and non-binary as young as kindergarten. pic.twitter.com/BvmOEN2UDi
— Mythinformed MKE (@MythinformedMKE) April 4, 2022
Kansas teacher says we have to teach kindergartners about LGBTQ because there are already kindergartners who are trans, non-binary, etc. Trans 5 year olds. pic.twitter.com/SYbbPx9SNM
— Libs of Tik Tok (@libsoftiktok) April 5, 2022
I am around young kids every day. Gender identity and sexuality is the furthest thing from their minds. The *ONLY* reason a kindergartner would “identify as non-binary” is if an adult is pushing it on them.
— JJ Benson (@JJBenson) April 5, 2022
His justification is in part that KINDERGARTENERS (including his own kid) already have cell phones and are on social media and learning from the internet. That is some pretty poor parenting IMO. Kids that young have no business being anywhere near social media.
— esafille (@esafille) April 5, 2022
“If they know about it, because of the stuff we teach them about in class, then they’re ready to learn about it”
— Dr. James K. Mantleray (@JamesKMantleray) April 5, 2022
I have never met a kindergarten child with a cell phone or had them tell me their sexual status so they could feel included.
— bradley (@bradley27247199) April 5, 2022
This gotta be one of the worst takes I’ve ever heard. Instead of realising children can be exposed to inappropriate content online he’s doubling down and saying to let kids do whatever they want online and then try and teach them retroactively. Horrible idea.
— Browser (@Browsers_Castle) April 5, 2022
— Noah Narut (@nfnarut) April 5, 2022
They are in his classroom/kindergarten because of people like him. “Trans kids” exist because they emulate what adults tell them not because they understand the concept of gender, sex or sexuality…
— Paul Muad'dib (@greschis) April 5, 2022
Just teach them reading writing and math. How hard can it be.
— bedlam1111 (@bedlam1111) April 5, 2022
This is insane.
— Joe Papp (@joepabike) April 5, 2022
I volunteer with kindergarten and 1st grade kids on a weekly basis and I’ve never ever had any of them even talking about heterosexual “identities”
The reason why kids bring it up is bc they are impressionable and hear it from adults period.
— Cat Daddie (@jannytsunami76) April 5, 2022
There isn't a kindergartener in the world that understands any of those terms.
— Casey (@Thinksfor1self) April 5, 2022
If you’re not the parent or legal guardian you have no say in it what so ever. There is no such thing as a trans kindergartner. They don’t even understand what they are saying. They just want to go along with what makes liberal mommy and daddy happy
— TruthSlinger (@SlingerTruth) April 4, 2022
How about that Facebook group for parents of trans and non-binary children who were excited about an Etsy shop that made underpants for “tucking” all the way down to a size 4 toddler?
Children do not rationalize with what non binary or transgender is. They haven't even hit puberty yet to understand these feelings. And your cult wants to indoctrinate innocent kids about sex and gender. You are a groomer. Gross
— Edwin Johnson (@ChuckEJive) April 5, 2022
Hey, we’ve been told to stop using the g-word.
Related:
ABC News features mother whose child communicated she was transgender at the earliest moment she had words https://t.co/hsMhFiFZde
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) April 1, 2022
